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Selling design when product is king
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesDesign today is all about product. Whether the topic is aesthetic, trends, lifestyles, sustainability, wellness, or smart homes, the message coming through the design media and their advertisers is clear: the solution is to purchase the right or best products. That perception is driving investment in making products of all kinds even more easily accessible to the consumer, especially through online and mobile platforms, thus eliminating the designer from the purchasing process.
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Shelter or asset class? The financialization of housing
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsSeveral years ago, a picture was taken at night of the One Hyde Park development in London. The building is home to some of the world’s most expensive real estate, reaping in up to $180 million for a single apartment. In the photo, there was not a single light on in the gleaming tower. Because no one lives there. As real estate prices continue to steadily rise, seemingly endlessly, we have seen the concept of a "home" become divorced from its original purpose as shelter, and becoming instead a financial asset class in built form.
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What is lighting-as-a-service, and why does it matter?
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsLighting-as-a-service (LaaS) is a service delivery model that allows lighting services to be charged on a subscription basis rather than via a one-time payment or the traditional manner of a facility or organization manually keeping up with equipment and paying the monthly bill. The business model has become more common in commercial installations of LED lights, with the primary aim of reducing installation costs.
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Creating noise oases in open-plan workspaces
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesSound masking systems, sound-absorbing ceiling tiles and panels, and enclosed pods are just some of the ways designers have attempted to combat the high levels of noise that plague open-plan workspaces. For their part, employees have resorted to wearing headphones or using white noise machines to block out unwanted ambient sound. None of these strategies has proven to be wholly effective. New technologies, however, may offer a more satisfactory solution.
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A long road ahead for Heathrow expansion, despite optimism
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveIf anyone needed convincing on just how full London Heathrow airport is, the month of May saw a staggering 6.7 million travelers pass through, thanks mostly to a royal wedding and the start of the summer tourist season. So, when the U.K. government gave almost unanimous support for expansion on June 5, most of those who have to use the airport gave a sigh of relief. Yet, this 20-years-in-the-making saga has only taken a small step forward, and more agonizing hurdles could still blight the airport’s bid to expand and keep pace with its rivals in continental Europe.
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Remodeling activity maintains momentum
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesRiding a solid growth trend at the end of last year, remodeling activity continued its upward trajectory in the first quarter of 2018. Business indicators were positive across the board, with remodelers reporting increases in projects and revenues. Industry experts forecast sustained growth throughout 2018 and into 2019. In releasing the results of its Q1 2018 Residential Remodeling Index (RRI), MetroStudy announced remodeling activity in the first quarter had its strongest year-over-year performance in four years and strongest quarter-over-quarter performance in five years.
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Preparing your business for hurricane season
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsPerhaps the following bit of guidance only applies to approximately one-third of the United States, but with another storm season upon us, one can never be too prepared. The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1, and with deadly subtropical storm Alberto having moved through the Gulf Coast and the Midwest already, and an extremely deadly storm season only a year behind us, preparation now could save lives and facilities.
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Why are our houses so bland?
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsWho designs our houses? Not always architects, it turns out. Looking at modern housing developments, we can see a wave of monotony overtaking the places we live, as row upon row of "pattern book" houses roll off the production line and onto our pavements. Why are our housing estates becoming so soulless? What lies behind these “identikit” rows of faux-traditional executive homes on the outskirts of our cities?
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10 things businesses need to know in uncertain times
Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEveryone knows that "business hates uncertainty." Uncertainty poses a clear threat to business, but it also contains significant opportunity. Sources of uncertainty must be understood so that these threats and opportunities can be effectively managed, avoiding and minimizing unnecessary problems as well as capturing and maximizing benefits. In the current uncertain business climate, it has never been more important for businesses to assess and manage their risks. But how do we do that when we are surrounded by uncertainty?
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The evolution of the office workspace
Susan Mulholland Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesThe office. No, I’m not talking about the sitcom, I’m talking about the phenomenon defined as a place where we work. Since our work life has moved from outside to in, the definition of what an office is has been pretty consistent. Or has it? Where did this definition come from, and why are we seeing more and more companies rethinking their workspaces?
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